-
- Is the door to narrow? Too many requirements to get in.
- Is the door to wide? Too few requirements.
- Is it's goals to limited, it's vision to small, it's love grown cold?
- Is it too large, too impersonal?
After the Temple, John was to measure the Alter, the heart of the church.
- Does it have the "true alter" which is Jesus Christ?
- How do the offerings measure up? Are they too small? Are they properly motivated?
- Is God being worshipped there?
- Are the people worshipping in spirit?
Included with the Alter were the worshippers. They were to be measured with the same "rod". How do they measure up? i,e, sincerity, motivation, love, concern.
Notice what was not to be measured. The court, which was outside the Temple. You see, the outer court was not part of the original plans given to Solomon for the Temple. Most believe that Herod built this addition and called it the "Court of the Gentiles". So what, did not Christ not die for the Gentiles also? Yes, but as Gentiles we gain access to God through Christ, not through the Temple. The Alter was the heart of the Temple. Our heart is the source of our relationship to God. Your outer "court", rags or riches, black or white, is not measured either.
In John's vision, the "outer court" would be given over to the Pagans to be
"trodden" under foot for 42 months. Our bodies are given over to the world but our
souls are reserved for the Lord.
The Two Witnesses
["Click here for Revelation 11:4-14"]
During these 42 months or 1260 days, two witnesses will have the power to prophesy. Who are these two witnesses?
- Some believe they will be Enoch and Elijah because they were "translated", never knew death.
- Some suggest Elijah and Moses who were seen on the Mt. of Transfiguration, Matt. 17.
- Some believe that John is speaking of two groups, believing Jews and believing Gentiles.
- Some believe the two represent God's faithful ministers who shall not only continue to profess the Christian religion but also preach it in the worst of times.
Now how do we explain the 42 month time period in which the outer court and the city will be given over to the nations? Some believe that what is spoken of here is the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. Others believe it is the whole world. Either way the "Gentiles", the Anti-Christ, the unbelievers will have control for 42 months.
To find a clue to the 42-month period we have to look to the beginning of Temple worship which was set up by Daniel on a 7-year (84 month) period. The first half of this period, 42 months, the Orthodox Jew was to offer sacrifices. The second half, 42 months, would find "great desecration by the Gentiles. This 42-month period often referred to as the "times of the Gentiles", will not end until the second coming of Christ. The Jew may possess Jerusalem temporarily, as they do today, but will loose possession in the Great Tribulation.
During the last half of the seven years, two "witnesses" will be empowered by God to serve as prophets. They will be clothed in "sackcloth" symbolizing their depression over the state of the Church. They will be supported, during this time, by the power of God. If anyone should attempt to hurt them, fire will come from their mouths and destroy the enemy. Elias did this in Second Kings, however, this will probably be more like the fire that God put into the mouth of Jeremiah when God said, "These people will be like dry wood and your words will consume them like fire." Also these witnesses shall have access to the "throne of grace" to inflict plagues, judgments and drought.
Notice what will happen when they are finished their work, "The Beast that will come from the 'bottomless pit' will destroy them." Note the following:
- Death is assured for all, but not until we have finished the work that the Lord has for us to do.
- In this case the instrument of death will be Satan who will undoubtedly use the Anti-christ.
- Their bodies will lie in the streets of the city for 3" days and "outsiders" will not allow them to be buried.
Notice where this will take place, (Verse 8) "a great city allegorically called Sodom and Egypt". Many scholars believe this to be Jerusalem, but whatever the city, it will have become as wicked as Sodom and as entrenched in idolatry and persecution as Egypt at the time of Moses.
Notice with their death a great celebration takes place and the pagans rejoice and exchange presents. Sound familiar? Is this what Christmas has become? Have pagan customs infiltrated our Holy Days? Have we bought permission from the pagan to observe this Holy Mass by lining their pockets with money?
These pagans rejoiced because the witness that had become a "thorn in their side", an "arrow in their hearts" a constant reminder of their sin, had been done away with.
Notice what happened in 3" days to the dead witnesses, like Lazarus they were resurrected on the fourth day, "the breath of life returned to them and they stood up on their feet". This caused great fear in the hearts of those who had killed them and they heard a great voice from heaven saying to the witnesses, "Come up hither", and in sight of their enemies, they went up into heaven in a cloud. It would seem from this and the story of Dives and the rich man, that hell will be, among other things, a place where the lost will be able to see the glory of heaven reserved for those who, by the grace of God, are there.
Notice after their ascension a great destruction came, as God's judgment, upon the
earth. It is described as an earthquake that destroys one tenth of the city. God's
judgment always brings fear in the hearts of men and this was no exception for
those who remained were terrified and gave glory to God.
The Seventh Trumpet
["Click here for Revelation 11:15-19"]
The seventh and last Angel sounded his trumpet as the seventh and last seal was broken and "loud" voices were heard in heaven. Finally the end had come, all seals were broken, all trumpets had sounded the final curtain was coming up and because of this there was great joy in heaven.
Note the manner in which they expressed themselves:
- They thankfully recognized the right of God, the Father and Jesus, the Savior, to rule and reign over all the world.
- They thankfully recognized His actual possession of them.
- They gave thanks because He had taken that which belonged to Him.
- He had used His power to gain title to that which He had created. He achieved this by the Holy Spirit.
- They thankfully knew that His reign would never end. When all the enemies are put under His feet, none will ever take the "scepter" out of the hand of Christ.
Note what was happening on earth. "The nations were angry." God was taking revenge upon the enemies of His people, bringing great destruction upon those who had persecuted the Saints. It was a time of reward for the faithful and the Anti-christ could not bear it.
Another benefit was noted by John. "God's Temple in Heaven was opened." What was the benefit of this? What happened on earth when the Temple was "opened" by the "renting of the veil"? Direct access was obtained to the Throne Room of God. No longer was there a need for a mediator. Communication freely flowed between Heaven and earth. Prayers, phrases and blessings without ceasing. It also relates to the "flow" of the Gospel from the Temple on earth, you, who have the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
So we see the end of the reign of the Anti-christ, a time when the Gospel was locked in the hearts of men and the beginning of the time when the Gospel flowed freely by witnessing. All of this was heralded by lightening, thundering voices, earthquakes and great hail, an unlikely introduction to the reign of Christ. Thus we have the beginning of the Millennium, the 1000-year reign of Christ.
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